Self cleaning centrifugal sieve



Jan. 17, 1933. c. c. SEARLE SELF CLEANING CENTRIFUGAL SIEVE Filed July 29, 1930 INVENTOR. Cgmqszvcs C. SEARLE. By M w Co.

A TTORNEYS.

atented Jan. 1?, 1933 CLARENCE C. BEARLE, OF Tun CALIFORNIA SELF CLEANING CENTBIFUGAL BIEVE Application filed July 29,

My invention relates to improvements in self-cleaning centrifugal sieves, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and operations hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a centrifugal sieve which is primarily designed to be used in connection with oil well drilling and is used to remove cuttings, other solid particles, and gas from the mud as it comes out of the opening on a rotary rig. The mud is then used again, and since it is freed from the foreign particles it will save wear and tear on the mud pump, casing and drill pipe. Furthermore, the valves on the mud pumps will not become clogged, and this saves a shutting down of the mechanism.

The top of the device is enclosed with a cone-shaped cover for retaining the gas liberated from the mud, and samples of this gas may be taken, thereby furnishing valuable information as to the quality of the gas and as to the formation in which drilling is taking place. The removing of the gas will prevent the mud from becoming cut-up and the mud can be used for a longer period of time than is at present possible.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the.specification proceeds, and the novel features of the invention willbe particularly pointed out in the claims hereto an ,nex'ed.

.My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the device, and

Figure 2 is a verticalsection through the device.

In carrying out my invention I provide a frame 1 in which is disposed a cylindricalshaped member 2 having a bottom 3 'forconveying the screened mud to an outlet pipe 4.

A conical-shaped sieve 5 is mounted upon a base 6, and the latter is rotated by means 46 of a stub shaft 7 that carries a bevel-gear 8 meshing with a second bevel gear 9. The base rotates upon a standard 10 that also acts as a housing for the gears 8 and 9.

The source of power in the present instance comprises a motor 11 working through 1930. Serial No. 471,574.

a clutch 12 and rotating a shaft 13 that carries the bevel gear 9. The sieve 5 has a wire mesh of any desired gauge, and this mesh is fine enough to prevent cuttings and other solid particles from passing into the tem 0- rary reservoir formed by the cylindrical member 2 and the bottom 3. The whirling of the sieve and the fact thatit is cone-shaped causes the heavier particles to be thrown out 'rcm the top of the sieve by centrifugal orcc.

These particles of foreign matter dro into a trough 14 that encircles the cylin er 2. The trough is kept clean by paddles 15 that are carried by arms 16, the latter being ri idly secured to a sleeve 17 that is rotatab y mounted in a bearing 18. The sleeve carries a bevel gear 19 that meshes with a second bevel gear 20, and the latter gear is operatively connected to the shaft 13 by reduction gearing 21 and 22. The pipe 23 conveying the mud from the well being drilled passes through the sleeve 17 and thence into the sieve 5 at a point near the bottom. The paddles 15 force the foreign matter to an outlet opening 24 (see Figure 1).

I provide means for trapping the as freed from the mud, and this consists o a domeshaped member or hood 25 that houses the sieve. Anoutlet pipe 26 leads from the top of the dome 25 and a valve 27 controls the fiow of gas escaping from the top of the member 25.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

It is obvious that the sieve5 may be in the shape of a cone, bowl, or a disc the sides of which form some angle with respect to the horizontal; The slope of the sides and the mesh of the screen depends upon the quality of the material handled. The sieve is revolved at a high speed, which causes the material discharged at the bottom of the sieve to be thrown outward and against the sides thereof. The mud will pass through the sieve, while the foreign particles willroll or slide toward the rim of' the sieve and will be delivered to the annular channel 14.

The device is practically automatic in oporation and effectually removes all cuttings and other solid particles. The as is also li erated from the mud, and sump es of this as may be taken by means of the pi e 26. he machine does away with the mm ditch and makes the mud last longer, thus reducing the cost of 0 aeration on puin )s and increasing the life of t e casing and cl rill pipe. Valuable information may be obtained from sam ice of the gas and the cuttings. It shoul be noted that the machine may be used to separate solids of diil'erent coarseness, and therefora: has a commercial use outside of the oil fiel s.

Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of various changes, and I reserve the right to employ such changes as may come within the scope of the claims hereto attached.

I claim:

1. A self-cleaning centrifugal sieve comprising a rotatable circular sieve having its wall extending upwardly and outwardly from the base, means for rotating the sieve, a circular channel encircling the upper open end of the sieve, the rim of the sieve being disposed substantially in registry with the inner wall of the channel, an outlet for the channel, and paddles movable in the channel for cleaning it.

2. A device for continuously cleaning mud used in oil well drilling machinery comprising a rotatable conical-shaped sieve, a tem-' porary reservoir enclosing the sieve forreceiving material passed through the sieve, an

outlet for the reservoir, a circular channel encircling the open top of the sieve, said channel having an outlet, paddles movable in the channel for directing material to the outlet, 8. dome-shaped casing covering the top of the sieve for temporarily trapping gases liberated from the mud and an outlet pipe leading from the top of the casing.

3. The herein described method of continuously cleaning rotary drilling mud which consists in centrifuging and screening the mud for separating the solids and. gas from the mud and in trapping the gas.

CLARENCE C. SEARLE. 

